There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

—Buddha

Last week the White House chief of staff, General John Kelly, defended a Confederate hero of the Civil War this way.

 “I would tell you that Robert E. Lee was an honorable man. He was a man that

gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago was more

important than country. (That’s called TREASON.)  It was always loyalty to

state first back in those days. Now it’s different today. But the lack of an ability

to compromise led to the Civil War. (Compromise how exactly?) And men

and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience

had to make their stand.”

What in the world was Mr. Kelly talking about? Exactly? According to his revisionist history, it was the lack of the ability to “compromise” that led to the Civil War instead of a moral conviction and a national shame. Most of us would like to believe that a moral conviction at least ignited the debate among the citizens of the United States.  Although not true for many, there was beginning to be a recognition of the immorality and shame inherent in the practice of claiming other human beings as property and breeding them, as a part of an institution called Chattel Slavery. Many people of high moral standards and religious conviction found the institution of slavery abhorrent. Kelly now contends that this conviction had nothing to do with the Civil War? Most historians will concede that slavery and the status of African-Americans were at the heart of the crisis that plunged the U.S. into the Civil War. That is an indisputable Truth. General Kelly went out of his way to praise Robert E. Lee basically calling him a “patriot” for the South. Kelly claimed that it was too bad that President Lincoln couldn’t find a way to compromise with the South and allow slavery to continue. General Lee killed more U.S. soldiers than were killed in the war in Vietnam and World War II. Robert E. Lee was NO hero. He was a man who, as a slave owner, was dedicated to the enslavement of other human beings.

Just how did Mr. Kelly propose a compromise might have been reached whereas the institution of slavery was concerned? Should the enslaved simply be enslaved on Monday/Wednesday and Friday, with Tuesdays and Thursdays off and some holidays Free? The comments Kelly made were outrageous on their face! There is no way to compromise on slavery, white supremacy, racism or oppression. They must be uprooted and RESISTED, ALWAYS, with the utmost vehemence and perseverance until we can claim without equivocation Freedom and Justice for ALL!